Adjustable strap or band



Sept. 30, 1924. 'y 1,509,955

C. H. KESTENMAN ADJUSTABLE STRAP OR BAND Filed May 31 1924 PatentedSept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE Sl'iAlD7 ASSEGNOR TO KES'IEN-MAN BROTHERS MFG. CO., 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A PARTNERSHIPCONSISTING OF ABRAHAM KESTENMAN AND CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

ADJUSTABLE STB-AP OR BAND.

Application filed May 31,

To all 'io/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KESTEN- MAN, a. citizen of th-e UnitedStates, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAdjustable Straps or Bands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible metal straps, bandsor linkages for use in the manufacture of bracelets, chains, belts andother jewelry or articles of a like nature.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved article ofmanufacture of the type specified having closely associated articulatedlinks or Vchain-elements which are adapted toflex, one in relation tothe other, in order that the strap 'or band may be bent into differentshapes; and particularly to provide means for coupling and uncouplingthe link-members whereby units .may be added to or detached from theband, chain or bracelet to alter its length.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the typespecified in which the links or chain-elements are more neatly andclosely connected to adapt them to be flexed without dislocation of theparts and without revealing unsightly joints or seams.

Another object of the improvement is to provide clasping-means for theseveral links or units of the strap or chain which may be readilysnapped together when a link is added and which may be convenientlyunclasped when a link is to be subtracted from the chain.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a clasping-means whichis proof against accidental release or disconnection and which will bestrong and durable in use.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the typespecied which may be manufactured from sheet-metal parts, struck up indies and assembled with a minimum of hand operations.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the typespecified which may have its parts assembled without soldering.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment of the in- 1924.Serial No. 716,904.

vention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved metal strap, band or chainshowing it bent or flexed in substantially circular' form;

F ig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of several of the links of thestrap, band or chain with certain of the outer links shown partly insection along their sides to illustrate the arrangement of the innerconnecting-links enclosed thereby;

Fig. 3 is a side view of several of the links of the strap, band orchain with a portion of the same shown in section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. t is an enlarged perspective View of one of the outer tubularbox-links of the device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sheetmetal blank from which theouter box-link is formed;

F ig. G is a perspective view of the inner connecting-link showing thearrangement of the clasping-means through which it is joined to twoadjacent outer links; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe sheet-metal blank from which the innerconnecting link is constructed.

The present improved device is of the same general character and type asthe strap, band or chain illustrated and described iu my priorapplication for Letters Patent Serial No. 700,509, filed March 20, 1924,but is distinguished therefrom in that in the present construction thelinks are not slidable one within the other to adapt the article toexpand, but, on the other hand, are disconnectable in order to add orsubtract the units to alter the length of the bracelet or otherarticlein which the links are incorporated. The present structure may beembodied as an entirety in a bracelet, chain, necklace, or other lik-earticle, or a number of unitsof the strap or band may be connected to achain or bracelet having links of a different type; as, for instance,the eXpansib-le bracelet shown in my application for patent abovereferred to. That is to say, the main section of the bracelet, chain,necklace, or other article may be composed of expansible links of asuitable type, while certa-in of the links of the article may be of thepresent improved construction whereby the bracelet, chain or necklacecan be lengthened or shortened as desired by adding or subtracting theunits.

Referring` now to the drawings, l have preferred to illustrate theinvention as embodied in a strap, band or chain having all of the linksof the saine type in accordance with the present improvement. As hereinshown the strap, band or chain is composed of outer tubular box-links 2and inner connecting-links 3, the latter having means for clasping themto the ends of the main boxlinks. Each outer link 2 comprises a hollowor tubular box of folded sheet-metal having Y open ends with prongs orlugs et projecting part way thereacross to provide-the connecting-meansfor fastening the inner links thereto. The box-links 2 are substantiallythe same as those illustrated in my prior application for patent abovereferred to and are constructed from sheet-metal blanks 5 of the formshown in Fig. 5. The central or main portion of the blank 5 is ofrectangular shape with slightly tapered extensions (S at its ends whichfold upwardly to form the sides ofV the box. The extensions G arecontinued in the strips 7 which are cut away at their ends to formopposite narrow fingers or lugs 8. To forni the box-link 2 the blank 5is folded across its width at points indicated by the dash lines in Fig.5 so that the two sides of the box will stand in perpendicular relationto the main portion of the blank; the sides of the box being ofwedge-shape, as shown in Fig. il, to adapt the ends of the links to fitclosely together when the band is bent into circular form as shown inFig. 1. The central portion of the blank 5 forms the top of the box andits bottoni is formed from the ends 7 of the strip which are foldedinwardly at righty angles to the sides to meet at the center in aclosely butted seam 9. In folding the ends 7 of the strip .inwardly thelugs or lingers 8 are bent downwardly with the lugs on the opposite endsof the strip abutting to provide the abutments or prongs 1, see Fig. il,previously referred to as the fasteningmeans for the inner links.

The inner enclosed links or connectingelements 3 of the strap, band orchain are also of hollow box-like form and have spring-tongues or flaps12 which are slotted to engage with the lugs l, at the ends of the outerbox-members 2. The connectinglinks 3 are constructed from somewhatlighter stock than that entering into the outer boxmembers and arefolded into shape from sheet-metal blanks 10 of the outline illustratedin Fig. 7. The main portion 11 of the blank is of rectangular outline,and extending from one of its sides is the flap or tongue 12, of oblongshape with a narrowed neck 13 which joins it to the main portion of theblank. The Hap or tongue l2 is punched or perforated to form tworectangular openings or slots 14 and 15 separated by a narrow strip 19of the metal. On the opposite side of the main portion 11 of the blankl() is a narrow lip 16 which is employed for a purpose as laterexplained.

ln forming` the connecting-link 2 vfrom the blank 10 the ends of thestrip 11 are bent or folded at right-angles to provide the sides 17 ofthe box. The tongue 12 is then bent across its narrowed neck-portion 13and folded over in opposite parallel relation with the main strip 11,whereby it forms a spring liap or hasp lying between the folded sides 17of the box. The outer end of the llap or tongue 12 is rolled or curledover to adapt it to slide across the ends of the lugs et on the mainlink 2 in clasping the parts together in the manner as hereinafter morefully explained. The lip 16 is bent at right-angles to the main strip 11to provide an abutment or stop against which the tongue 12 strikes whenit is sprung toward the main portion of the link, as illustrated in Fig.-l.

It is to be understood that in the present drawings the links orliox-melubers 2 and il are shown in inverted position, that isbottom lside up, in order to more clearly illustrate their construction. lVhenthe band, strap or chain is in use. however, the position ol' the linkswill be reversed so that the smooth unbroken sides of the main links 9.form the exposed or upper face of the, band while the opposite bottonisides having the seamsl are ordinarily concealed from view.

ln assembling the parts of the strap. band or chain the outer links 2are placed in alinement and the inner comiecting-links il insertedbetween their sides before the main links are completely formed. ll'henthe bottom portions of the main link are folded over and their edgesbrought together in the butt-joint; S) the lingers or lugs at the endsoll the strip are bent in\\*ardly. as illustrated in Fig. l, to insertthem through the .rectangular openings ll and 15 in the spring tongue.or flap l2 of the inner link 2. ll preferred, the outer links 2 may eachbe ilulividually assembled with one of the inner connectinglinks byfolding the bottom portions ol' the main `link thereover and insertingthe l ingers 8 through the slot 15. lVhen each of the main links 2 hasbeen joined at one end lo an inner link 3 in this n'ianner theprojecting portion of the connecting-link 2l is slid into the opening inthe next adjacent main link by springing the flap or tongue 1Q inwardlyagainst its stop 1G. As before explained. the outer, free end of thetongue 12 is bent or curled over at' 18 to adapt it to slide across theend of the prong elon the main link 2 to act as a latch whereby theprong or lug 1 will snap into the slot l-l in the tongue as illustratedin Fig. 2l.

After the links have been comieeted in lill) lllfl llll Cil

the strap, hand or chain, or embodied in a bracelet or other article,the different links are readily disconnected to shorten the length ofthe article by releasing the tongues 12 from the lugs 4 at the ends ot'the main links. This is most readily accomplished by inserting a sharpinstrument, such as a pin, into the opening between two adjacent linkson the under side of the strap or bracelet, as illustrated at the rightin Fig. 3. By pressing the pin P against the crossbar 19 interveningbetween the two slots 14 and 15 the tongue orhasp 12 is sprung inwardlyuntil it strikes against the abutment or stop 16, as shown at the rightin Fig. 3. The tongue or hasp 12 will thus be released from the prong 4on the next connected outer link 2 so that the links can be drawn apart.The next adjacent clasping-link 3 may then be released from the oppositeend of the main link in the same manner so that one or more of the linkscan thus be removed to shorten the band, bracelet, or other article. Thetwo parts of the bracelet are then connected together by sliding thetongue 12 of the. connecting-link at one end into the main link at theopposite end, the tongue or hasp 12 being thus caused to slide in underthe prong 4 until the latter registers with the slot or opening 14, whenthe tongue will spring back into place to clasp the two ends of thestrap together.

It will thus be seen that the separable units of the strap, band,bracelet, or other article are readily disconnected so that they may beremoved to shorten its length and, likewise, additional units or linksmay be added to the strap or bracelet by disconnecting two of its linksand inserting the eXtra link or links in place between them.

It will be observed that the present improven'rent provides aparticularly neat and simple structure adapted for the construction ofstraps, bands or .linkages employed in bracelets, chains or likearticles of jewelry, and having means i'or disconnecting and connectingthe links at will to alter the length of the article as required. Itwill be noted that the parts ot the strap or band are constructed fromsheet-metal stampings which may be formed in dies with their partsjoined without soldering. The improved clasping-means between the mainlinks of the article provide a particularly strong and durableconnection for holding the links in closely associated relation withoutdisclosing unsightly joints or seams between the parts. Furthermore, theimproved construction makes for greater strength and durability ot' thearticle in use, while providing ior a convenient adjustment of the linksto add or subtract units to the band or bracelet.

Vihile I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it isto be understood that modifications may be made in the form andstructure of the parts of the device without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to theexact construction shown, I claim:

1. In an article of the type specified, a series of outer tubularlink-members having open ends with prongs extending part waythereacross, and a series of inner connecting-links of box-like formenclosed within the outer links and provided with springtongues havingopenings for receiving the prongs at the ends oit two adjacent mainlinks.

2. In an article of the type specified, the combination with outertubular link-members having prongs projecting inwardly across theopenings at their ends, and boX- like connecting-members having foldedsides with a spring-tongue extending therebetween, said tongue providedwith slotted openings adapted to engage the prongs at the ends of themain link-members to connect the latter in a flexible band or chain.

In an article ot' the type specified, the combination of tubular mainlink-members folded from strips of sheet-instal with the edges thereofforming a butted seam on the under side of the link with lugs bentinwardly from the ends of the folded portions and abutting to provideprongs projecting part way across the openings at the ends of the links,and inner box-like link-inembers formed from strips of metal folded toprovide opposite parallel sides and having a flap extending from one endand bent upwardly and across between the sides with spaced slots piercedtherethrough and adapted to be sprung into engagement with the prongs atthe oposite ends oit the main links to connect the latter in a band orchain.

4. In an article ot the type specified, the combination ot a. tubularmain link :formed ot sheet-metal with prongs bent .inwardly to projectpart way across the openings at their ends, and inner connecting-linkshaving main fiat portions with sides bent at right angles thereto and aflap connected to the main portion by a narrow neck to adapt it to bebent upwardly and across between the sides, said flap being perforatedwith two opposite slots and provided with a curled-over end adapted tobe slid in under the prong at the end of the outer main link to adaptone of its slots to engage therewith, with its other slot receiving theprong at the end of an adjacent main link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ai'lix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

